Carlos Alcaraz battles past Arthur Rinderknech to reach Indian Wells fourth round

[p]The big-serving Frenchman's aggressive game forced world number one [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/alcaraz-garfia-carlos/UkhgIFEq/"]Alcaraz[/a] to call on every shot in his arsenal to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/alcaraz-garfia-c-UkhgIFEq/rinderknech-a-pIxZZsof/?mid=M5KEzVM0"]turn a tense contest his way[/a].[/p][p]Alcaraz will face 13th-seeded Norwegian [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ruud-casper/zN9UpRqp/"]Casper Ruud[/a] for a place in the quarter-finals.[/p][p][b]"Really happy that I was able to turn things around,"[/b] said Alcaraz.[/p][embed guid="afa72806-a67a-426f-8233-f41a407c7b23" url="https://x.com/atptour/status/2031221926610227663" social-type="twitter" /][p]The Spaniard nearly managed to steal the first-set tiebreaker, in which he had trailed 2-5, but a wayward forehand on set point gave [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rinderknech-arthur/pIxZZsof/"]Rinderknech[/a] his chance to pocket the set with a pair of winners.[/p][p]Rinderknech then produced the first service break of the match to put the top seed in a hole in the opening game of the second set.[/p][p]Alcaraz responded with an immediate break back, ramping up the pressure on Rinderknech's serve on the way to a decisive break in the sixth game.[/p][p]When Alcaraz broke again to open the third set he was on his way, rolling to his sixth win over 26th-ranked Rinderknech in six career meetings.[/p][p][b]"In the beginning I was a little bit mad with myself because I just had a lot of chances in the first set, a few break points, set point, and I couldn't make it,"[/b] Alcaraz said.[/p][embed guid="f42f89c3-f91b-440a-bcc3-941cca06f3c2" url="https://x.com/BNPPARIBASOPEN/status/2031219812580642837" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]"I got in trouble to be honest. But I'm just really happy with the way that I just dealt with everything that was happening, accepted it, kept going, stayed strong mentally."[/b][/p][p]Rinderknech had never won a match in Indian Wells in three prior appearances and he leaves this edition without an on-court victory after enjoying a first-round bye and advancing to the third round by walkover.[/p][p]Alcaraz, 22, became the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam with his victory at the Australian Open.[/p][p]He followed that up with the Qatar Open title and with two wins under his belt in Indian Wells is now 14-0 on the season.[/p][p]He next faces Ruud, who beat [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/vacherot-valentin/rFqoSYd8/"]Valentin Vacherot[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/ruud-c-zN9UpRqp/vacherot-v-rFqoSYd8/?mid=MByZudOa"]3-6, 6-3, 6-4[/a].[/p]